Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/626951
SOLUTIONS 26 • January 25, 2016 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com In a galaxy far away on Planet Retail, the power of the force had once been strong. The practices of the force had always been used in powersports dealerships on the planet, but over time those practices had been forgotten, pushed aside, and the dark side had crept in. What had once been Planet Retail's strengths had become its weaknesses. Dealer- ship performances throughout the planet had weakened to disturbing levels. Something had to be done; disturbances in the force had to be corrected, and the dark side had to be defeated. Summoning Yoda for guidance was suggested by one of the parts droids, and the Millennium Falcon was dispatched to Dagobah (Yoda doesn't drive anymore) to fetch the little guy. "When the force is followed and embraced, prosperity you will have," Yoda said upon his arrival. The ways of the force are used to strengthen practices and improve perfor- mance in powersports dealerships throughout the galaxy. "The practices that the force drives, and the performance it strengthens is not something to be taken lightly, Padawans," Yoda continued explaining. "Processes, procedures, individual performance, everything works at a much higher level when the force is used to reinforce and guide. I had this one Jedi years ago named Luke Sky, or something like that, who I was continually having to remind to use the force." "Many earth powersports dealerships have embraced the practices of the force to build long-lasting, stable and profitable powers- ports dealership businesses," Yoda explained. "Now, the force may be called different things, but what it does for powersports dealerships throughout the galaxies is pretty much the same. On the planet Earth, for example, the force is used to guide how dealership crew members engage with each other and the cus- tomers that come into their dealerships daily. It should never be a flip of a druggat (coin) that determines what type of service someone will receive in any dealership, on any planet." Yoda continued. "If I needed a new lightsaber, or was looking for a used landspeeder (used land- speeder business is good right now), I'm going someplace where the omnipresent energy of the force has been harnessed and is being used. I'm going where I know I'm appreciated, and I'm told that I am. (It's a big galaxy, with lots of choices.) I will spend more druggats in your dealership if I feel that way, frequent your deal- ership to spend more often and bring my other Jedi buddies in to do the same." "This is not rocket science, and it doesn't take a dissertation by C3PO to understand," Yoda continued. "How you engage folks — customers and your crew members alike — is the key to heightened dealership performance. Do your crew members have pride in working for you and at your dealership? Are your cus- tomers passionate about doing business with your dealership because of how you do things? Do you all strive to exceed expectations always, and do your customers know they can always count on that? The answers to all those questions should be yes! Yes should always be; never no, hmm," Yoda said intently. The force drives everything else you do to a much higher level. The force gives its users the ability to perform supernatural feats. This is something you want to model and you want to embrace. No matter what galaxy you may be in, or what planet you may be on, everyone wants to be treated well (took years for Hans to get it) and be appreciated for who they are and what they do. A pat on the back and a thank you go a long way if they're sincere. Droids, ewoks, humans, wookies — it's all the same. When you start taking folks for granted, that's when the dark side starts to creep in and starts taking over. That's when the folks who would come into your dealership stop coming in. That's when the folks who used to spend all those druggats in your dealership start spending less of them. That's when the folks who used to bring their friends in and recommended others to you, stop as well. Crew members leave that you would have preferred stay, and what was good about the universe is now an intergalactic swirl of epic proportions. Planet Retail suffers. Sequels are in doubt, as well as your profitability. How your dealership engages with folks along with the quality of your service is the key to heightened retail performance. "You can have all the procedures and processes in the universe, but if your service is poor, so will your sales be," Yoda said, as he was board- ing the Millennium Falcon to leave. As Yoda walked up the ramp, he turned and said, "May the force awaken and drive your dealership's performance!" And then something about, liv- ing long and prospering? Hmm … Have a great month everybody! PSB Former dealership owner Mark Mooney is the principal of Mark Mooney Powersports Consult- ing, a Santa Cruz, Calif.-based company that works with OEMs and powersports dealers to strengthen dealership performance. Contact him at mooneypowersportsconsulting@gmail.com May the force be with your dealership THINK ABOUT THIS… In a galaxy far away force had once been strong. The practices always been used in MARK MOONEY